Countries: occupied Palestinian territory, Ireland, Jordan, South Africa, Spain Source: Save the Children NEW YORK, 22 September 2026 – Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan joined the Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin, the State of Palestine and Save the Children at a United Nations General Assembly side event on Tuesday to call for urgent international action to protect Palestinian children subjected to military detention. The High-Level Dialogue on Palestinian Children in Military Detention, convened by Save the Children and co-sponsored by the governments of Jordan, Ireland, the State of Palestine, Spain, and South Africa, focused on the escalating risks facing Palestinian children who are arrested, detained and prosecuted under Israeli military law, and on the concrete steps governments can take to protect their rights. Save the Children’s latest research documents severe physical, psychological and sexual abuse of Palestinian children in Israeli military detention, including reports of torture and other ill-treatment, solitary confinement, deprivation of adequate food and medical care, and denial of basic legal protections. The humanitarian organisation has found that conditions for detained children have deteriorated significantly since October 2023. The dialogue came amid growing international concern over the treatment of Palestinian children in detention and called for greater diplomatic action. Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan said: “Children’s accounts follow a grim, familiar pattern: Ripped from their homes in the middle of the night, not knowing where they are being taken or why. Brought alone, handcuffed and blindfolded, to interrogation sites; hauled before military courts; pressured to sign documents they don’t understand. Assaulted and threatened with rape… kept underfed, isolated, and afraid.” “I just don’t understand. What is so terrifying about Palestinian children? Before they have even come of age, Palestinians are cast as threats: demographic threats, security threats, presumed guilty of future crimes they haven’t committed. Their innocence stripped away, they are dehumanized so thoroughly that even a kid with roller skates, a soccer ball, or a kite can be seen as something menacing. And a child can be branded a terrorist – as if they were never a child at all.” Micheál Martin, Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland said: “The report on abuse of Palestinian children in Israeli military detention, and the testimonies we have heard today, are deeply shocking and describe experiences that no child should ever endure. “We all have a responsibility to ensure that the testimonies of these extraordinarily courageous children are not only listened to, but urgently acted upon. The military detention of children cannot be justified. “Ireland, together with international partners, continues to call for Israel to fully comply with international law, and for independent monitoring and accountability, and the protection of all children affected by conflict – of their rights, safety and dignity at all times.” Inger Ashing, CEO of Save the Children International, said: “Children should never be subjected to violence, abuse or degrading treatment. Yet for decades, Palestinian children have been arrested, prosecuted and detained through a military system that fails to guarantee the protections every child is entitled to. “The testimonies we have heard from children are deeply disturbing. They describe being taken from their families, subjected to violence and humiliation, denied adequate food and healthcare, and left with lasting physical and psychological harm. “Governments have both the responsibility and the influence to act. Expressions of concern are not enough. We need coordinated diplomatic action that delivers tangible protection for Palestinian children and ensures their rights are respected.” The event brought together representatives of governments, the United Nations, humanitarian and human rights organisations to examine both the immediate protection needs of detained Palestinian children and the broader international response. Discussions focused on steps governments can take to end violations against children, strengthen monitoring and accountability, secure independent access to children in detention, and ensure that international law and child rights standards are upheld. Save the Children is calling for an end to the detention of Palestinian children within the Israeli military detention system and the release of children currently held. The organisation is also calling on the international community to use its diplomatic influence to end systematic violations against Palestinian children and ensure independent investigation and accountability for alleged abuses. Notes to editors The High-Level Dialogue took place on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, from 3:00–4:15pm EDT in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The event was livestreamed on UNTV . Save the Children’s policy brief, “Tortured”: The Escalating Abuse of Palestinian Children in Israeli Military Detention , documents physical, psychological and sexual abuse, solitary confinement, inadequate food and medical care, and denial of legal protections reported by Palestinian children subjected to military detention. The research found a significant deterioration in detention conditions since October 2023, with serious long-term consequences for children’s mental health, education and wellbeing. Save the Children has called for children held in the military detention system to be released, for the system of military detention of Palestinian children to end, and for stronger international action to protect Palestinian children and uphold their rights.
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